You missed the launch of Aion in the UK earlier this year, didn’t you? You’re completely forgiven, because it was yet another Chinese brand arriving with a bland electric crossover. Boo.
Things might be starting to get a little more interesting for the GAC-owned firm though, because it has just confirmed orders are set to open for its second car next month. Said car will be called the Aion UT, and it’s a hatchback. Hurrah!
Aion itself describes the UT as a B-segment electric supermini that offers “C-segment quality, space and features”. Should be priced as a rival for things like the Renault 5 and Volkswagen ID. Polo, then.
Customer deliveries will kick off in October this year, with a single powertrain and trim level. That means you’re looking at a front-mounted motor making 201bhp and a 60kWh battery that should provide 268 miles of range. A 30 to 80 per cent charge apparently then takes 24 minutes.
There have apparently been plenty of tweaks to get it ready for UK roads, with a new suspension setup and revised anti-roll bar. Oh, and we’re told that the UT was “styled for Europe” at GAC’s design studio in Milan. There’s talk of the face being ‘owl-inspired’, but we’re unsure if that’ll translate into the UT being able to perform rapid U-turns. It should really have come with a proper handbrake. Instead, you get heated front seats, a whacking great touchscreen and a 360-degree parking camera inside.
There’s also a Premium Pack that adds a panoramic roof, a powered tailgate, a ventilated driver’s seat and wireless charging for your phone. Plus, Aion’s big thing is apparently something it calls a ‘Great 8 Promise’. That means an eight-year warranty, eight years’ servicing, eight years’ roadside assistance and MOTs to cover the car until it’s eight years old. Could that tempt you out of the rather wonderful Renault?